Maiduguri, February 16, 2026 — Suspected fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) launched a heavy overnight assault on a Nigerian Army forward operating base in Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, late on February 15 2026.
Residents reported intense gunfire and explosions beginning around 9 p.m. and continuing for over an hour, with parts of the military facility set ablaze during the engagement.
Eyewitnesses and local sources said the attackers used heavy weapons and attempted to overrun the camp before withdrawing under fire from defending troops.
Several Nigerian soldiers are feared killed or wounded, though the military has not yet released an official casualty figure or detailed statement on the outcome of the operation Pulka, situated near the Cameroon border, remains a frequent target due to its strategic location close to ISWAP hideouts in the Gwoza hills.
The attack is the latest in a string of intensified ISWAP operations across southern Borno in recent months, testing military positions amid ongoing counter-insurgency efforts.
No independent confirmation of the attackers’ losses or the full extent of damage has emerged as of Monday morning. Security forces have urged civilians in the area to stay vigilant while reinforcements are reportedly being deployed to the zone.
